Former Chicago Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol was 2-4 with a 5.86 ERA and three blown saves in five chances this season, walking 21 and striking out 32. BRIAN KERSEY, GETTY IMAGES

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers' search for some veteran help to stabilize their bullpen has apparently led to one of the most unstable relievers in recent years.

According to multiple sources, the Dodgers are in discussions with the Chicago Cubs to acquire right-hander Carlos Marmol. Marmol, 30, was designated for assignment a week ago, giving the Cubs 10 days to waive, trade or release the deposed closer.

Given Marmol's $9.8 million salary this season in the final year of a three-year, $21 million contract, the move figured to end with Marmol's release. It is unclear how much of Marmol's remaining salary (almost $5 million) the Dodgers are willing to take on. That could vary based on the caliber of player sent to the Cubs in a trade.

The Cubs have tried to get out from under Marmol's contract before. A deal with the Angels for right-hander Dan Haren was all but finalized last winter, but it fell apart over questions regarding Haren's health.

Marmol has had a checkered run in the Cubs' bullpen since 2006. He had 92 saves from 2008-10, making the All-Star team in 2008, and a career strikeout rate of 11.7 per nine innings (including 16 in 2010).

But he tied for the major league lead with then-Angels closer Jordan Walden with 10 blown saves in 2011 and was moved out of the closer's role multiple times, in large part because of a walk rate of 6.07 per nine innings (highest among pitchers with at least 200 innings since his big-league debut in 2006). This season, Marmol was 2-4 with a 5.86 ERA and three blown saves in five situations, walking 21 and striking out 32 in 272/3innings.

Marmol lost the closer's job early this season to right-hander Kevin Gregg. Gregg pitched very well for the Dodgers in spring training but he was released when he would not accept an assignment to Triple-A to start the season. The Dodgers hoped to stash him in the minors and hold on to their cache of starting pitchers, a group at the time that included Chris Capuano, Ted Lilly and Aaron Harang, none of whom opened the season in the rotation.

Gregg has converted 13 of 14 save situations with a 1.65 ERA and 0.99 WHIP for the Cubs.

The Dodgers' bullpen has been a problem area all season. Only one team in the National League has a higher bullpen ERA than the Dodgers' 4.43. No relief corps in the NL has allowed a higher batting average against (.271) and only the Houston Astros in the American League have had a more hittable group of relievers.

The Dodgers are also first in the NL (and second in the majors) with 17 losses charged to relievers and tied with the Cubs and Baltimore Orioles for the major league lead in blown saves (16).

They appeared to take a new direction in addressing those issues over the weekend, jettisoning veterans Matt Guerrier and Peter Moylan in favor of hard-throwing youngsters Jose Dominguez and Chris Withrow.

But the Dodgers have been down this road before, acquiring an inconsistent reliever who had lost his job as closer with another team. Brandon League began last season as the Seattle Mariners' closer but was demoted in May and traded to the Dodgers in June. League pitched well for the Dodgers, posting a 2.30 ERA and converting all six save situations after taking over from Kenley Jansen later in the year.

Marmol would not provide immediate help to the Dodgers' bullpen — he has not pitched since June 20 and went home to the Dominican Republic after he was designated for assignment.

NOTES

Carl Crawford was 1 for 3 and played seven innings in left field for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga Monday night. Crawford has three singles and two runs scored in six at-bats over two games on a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment with the Quakes. He was 2 for 3 as the DH Sunday and is expected to play at least two more games (one more at DH and one in the outfield) with Rancho Cucamonga before rejoining the Dodgers. Crawford has been out since June 1 with a hamstring injury. ...

Former major leaguer Jonathan Sanchez made his second start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday and got the victory over Memphis by throwing five scoreless innings. Sanchez allowed three hits and four walks and struck out five. After he was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season, Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers that included a July 1 opt-out clause if he had not been promoted to the majors. Sanchez has agreed to postpone that date and continue pitching for Albuquerque. ...

Outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. was placed on the disabled list by Triple-A Albuquerque after breaking a bone when he fouled a ball off his foot. Gwynn was batting .323 in 68 games for the Isotopes.

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